Zardari launches D-8 Summit

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari launched the D-8 Summit here on Thursday to focus on enhancing economic and trade cooperation among the member countries. The theme of the summit is "Democratic partnership for peace and prosperity".

The charter of the organization would be signed by foreign ministers of member states while the Summit would also adopt the Islamabad Declaration 2012 to meet common challenges faced by member countries. 

Preparations have been made in regard to the Summit with avenues from Benazir International Airport to the city decorated with flags, portraits and colourful buntings of member states. 

Leaders from the Developing-Eight countries will join heads on Thursday at the 8th D-8 Summit to find ways for a sustainable prosperity for their peoples. The heads of state and government of the D-8 member states including Turkey, Malaysia, Iran, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nigeria, Egypt and the host country Pakistan are participating in the summit on the theme ‘Democratic partnership for peace and prosperity’. 

The leaders include Iranian President Mahmood Ahmedinejad, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Bangladeshi Advisor to Prime Minister for International Affairs Professor Gowher Rizvi. 

The event will be opened by the Nigerian President, being the outgoing chairman of the D-8. President Asif Ali Zardari will deliver the welcome address after assuming the chairmanship. Nigeria on Wednesday handed over the chairmanship to Pakistan in the meeting of D-8 Council of Ministers held here. 

The leaders will also address the event that aims at enhancing relations in multiple areas, particularly trade. 

The session will adopt a report of the 15th Session of the Council and the D-8 Charter. 

The summit is significant in realizing the collective issues of D-8 members states and finding their solutions for a sustainable future of the one billion people they represent. 

Copyright Business Recorder, 2012 

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2012